Top motorcycle jargon

Kori Ellis is an editor and writer based in San Antonio, TX, where she lives with her husband and four children. At SheKnows, she writes about parenting, fashion, beauty and other lifestyle topics. Additionally, Kori has been published i...

Know your biker talk

Despite some stereotypes, motorcycle riders generally aren't group of outlaws and thieves who start bar fights, harass people and commit crimes before riding off into the sunset. They are everyday people who live and love their motorcycles and the motorcycle culture.

Motorcycle culture

The culture consists of a variety of organized motorcycle clubs of dedicated bikers who come to together for rider training, education, socialization and camaraderie. These mainstream clubs and organizations usually have elected officers, collect annual dues and often put out publications. Additionally, many of them sponsor rallies several times a year where members get together, socialize and ride.

Though sometimes motorcycle riders, clubs and the whole culture is perceived negatively, it's largely because of the movies, TV shows and some highly publicized isolated incidents. Most motorcycle riders aren't criminals or troublemakers in any way, shape or form. They are people like you and me, who come from all walks of life and share a love of riding bikes.

If you are new to riding motorcycles, you may not be familiar with some of the jargon associated with riding. We hope that this information will be helpful as you become more familiar with motorcycle riding and the culture.

Motorcycle jargon

Aftermarket - Parts or accessories made by someone other than the original manufacturer